The Monitor is used as a deliberately provocative starting point because she was not a fast oceanic fighting ship. Her six-knot speed is weighed against turret, belt, deck, and pilot-house armor, plus two 11-inch guns. The segment helps viewers see coastal defence as a design purpose: defend or blockade close waters with protection and hitting power rather than seakeeping and speed.
Notable Point · 16:46-19:20
USS Monitor as an early coastal-defence example
The USS Monitor example shows how slow speed, heavy protection, and large guns can define the type.